Basket construction



May 19, 1936. A4 HEWSON BASKET CONSTRUCTION Filed July 25, 1935 ill IHtorneg Patented May 19, 1936 UNlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in market basket construction andconsists essentially of the addition to a standard market basket of alower inside hoop contiguous tothe lowermarginal portion of the basketsiding, a relatively thin basket bottom marginally supported by theadditional hoop, and a metal strap athwart the basket bottom having downturned ears extending over the lateral edges of said bottom and tuckedbetween the siding and inside hoop where they are secured combininglywith the regular outside hoop and the lower end of the bale shafts.

One important object of the invention is to provide means in marketbasket construction whereby the cost of material is reduced.

Another important object is to provide means of reducing weight in theconstruction of these baskets.

Another important object is to provide a basket construction wherebywhile the basket is materially lighter in weight and construction thanstandard baskets its strength is appreciably increased.

Still another important object is to provide a basket having theforegoing qualities but maintaining the general external appearance of astandard or ordinary market basket.

A fifth important object is to provide a basket having all the foregoingqualities yet the general dimensions prescribed under authority.

With the above and other objects in view as will be hereinafterapparent, the invention consists in general of certain novel details ofconstruction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described,illustrated in the accompanying drawing and specifically claimed.

In the accompanying drawing like characters of reference indicate likeparts in the several views, and:

Figure 1 is a median sectional side elevation of a market basketconstructed in accordance with this invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional top view of a portion of the basket taken on theline 2--2 in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a bottom view of a portion of the basket;

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional end elevation taken on the line 44 inFigure 2;

Figure 5 is a magnified detailed view of the lower right corner ofFigure 4; and,

Figure 6 is a side view of the metal strap.

Illustrated on the drawing is a market basket conventionally constructedwith the exception of the basket bottom, the lower inside hoop and themetal strap.

The conventional parts of the basket consist of the siding sections I 53of veneer wood which overlap at points II, the upper outside hoop l2with overlapping ends I3 on one side, the upper inside hoop I 4 withoverlapping ends IS on the opposite side, the lower outside hoop I 6with overlapping ends ll on one side, and the handle or bale N3 theshafts l 8' of which embrace the sides of the basket as shown.

Ordinarily there is associated with a basket of this class acomparatively heavy board basket bottom the thickness of which is aboutequal to the breadth of the lower outside hoop I6. and coplanar with theedges thereof, and ordinarily this hoop together with the siding I0 isnailed to the edges of the basket bottom. Similarly the shafts of thebale l8 which overlap the hoop- 16 are nailed to the edges of thisbasket bottom with the outside hoop and siding between them.

Instead of the aforesaid heavy or thick basket bottom there is in thepresent invention provided a relatively very thinbasket bottom I9. Infact, the basket bottom I9 is preferably made of veneer wood aboutdouble the thickness of the veneer 'wood siding and hoops, which latterare approximately equal in thickness. This comparatively thin bottom,however, is fully adequate to support a normal basket load when seatedand secured in the novel manner to be ascertained, but materiallyreduces the weight and cost of the basket by elimination of the heavy orrelatively thick conventional bottom.

The bottom I9 is marginally supported by an inside hoop 20 contiguous tothe internal face of the siding l0 and having overlapping ends 2|. Thisextra internal hoop, the siding and the outside hoop l6 are all securedtogether by means of spaced staples 22 (called stitching in the baskettrade) clenched on the inside similarly to the manner in which the upperhoops and siding are united in common practice.

Athwart the basket bottom I 9 on its upper face is a very thin metalstrap 23 which is nailed thereto as at 24 or otherwise secured in anapproved manner. This strap is provided with down turned cars 25 whichembrace the lateral edges of the basket bottom and are thence tuckedbetween the inside hoop 20 and the basket siding l0.

Through the extremities of the bale shafts l8 and thence in consecutiveorder through the outside hoop l6, the siding I0, the ears 25, and theinside hoop 20, are driven staples 26 which are subsequently clenchedagainst the internal face of the latter hoop. In this manner theforegoing 15 loosening and opening of the parts. V

gether, and furthermore the basket bottom 19 is thus permanently fixedin its proper position. As previously mentioned, the conventional basketbottom in thickness occupies the full space betweenthe herein describedbottom and the lower edges of the hoops, siding and bail shafts. Thusthere was no way of clenching the nails and it was common for them toloosen and evacuate the nail holes, particularly if the wood happened tobe abnormally soft. Therefore, it will be observed that as wellasaffording appreciable lightness and saving of lumber this improvedbasket by-reason 'of the resultant provision for clenching the staples26 is secure against There has been provided a simple and eificient 7device of the kind described and for the purpose specified."

It is obvious that minor changes may be made in the form andconstruction of theoinvention' It is not, therefore, desired to confinethe' V o 7 2,040,993 'parts are securely tightened and clamped toing ofa sheet'of veneer wood supported by said inside hoop, a stiffening strapathwart said bottom and secured thereto, down' turned ears on the endsof said strap tucked between said inside hoop and the siding, and meanssecuring both said hoops, the siding, and said. ears together.

2. The combination with the siding and shafted bail of a market basket,of a veneer wood lower inside hoop, a basket bottom consisting of asheet of veneer wood supported by said inside hoop, a stiffening strapathwart said bottom and secured thereto, ears'on the ends of said strapsecured to the siding and to the shafts of said bail.

3. The combination with the siding and lower outside hoop, of a marketbasket, of a veneer wood lower inside hoop, a basket bottom consistingof a sheet of veneer wood supported by said inside hoop, ear supportingmembers secured to said bottom, ears on said members tucked between saidinside hoop and the siding, and means securing both said hoops, thesiding, and said ears together. a

4. The combination withthe siding and shafted ball of a market basket,of a veneer woodlower inside hoop, a basket bottom consisting-of a sheetof veneer wood supported by said inside hoop, ear supporting memberssecured to said bottom, and ears on said members secured to the sidingand to the shafts of said bail.

ARTHUR HEWsoN.

